Phosphogypsum and vinasse application: Soil chemical properties and alfalfa productivity and nutritional characteristics

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the application of phosphogypsum and vinasse on soil chemical properties and productivity and nutritional characteristics of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, using a 3×5 factorial arrangement, with three vinasse rates (0, 150 and 300 m3 ha-1) and five phosphogypsum rates (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 Mg ha-1). The alfalfa chemical composition and shoot dry matter (SDW) and soil chemical properties (in the layers 0.0-0.2 and 0.21-0.4 m) were evaluated. The vinasse rates increased the soil potassium contents, while the phosphogypsum rates promoted linear increases in soil calcium and sulfur contents. The base saturation was increased and the magnesium content showed a quadratic response on the layer 0.21-0.4 m with the increase in phosphogypsum rates. The calcium, magnesium and phosphorus contents in the alfalfa leaves were lower with vinasse application. The phosphogypsum rates promoted linear increases in alfalfa SDW. Vinasse rated 150 m3 ha-1 was been enough to SDW increase. Calcium and magnesium contents in the leaves fitted a quadratic model, with maximum calcium content in the phosphogypsum rate of 9.5 Mg ha-1 and the minimum magnesium content in the phosphogypsum rate of 8.7 Mg ha-1. The leaf sulfur contents in all vinasse rates and leaf potassium contents in the highest vinasse rate showed maximum accumulation at near 9 Mg ha-1 of phosphogypsum.